Control system



Dec. 31, 1940. R. 'R. BRUNNER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 11. 1958 INVENTOR. Eel-:D /Q BRUN/VER ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1940 'UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM Reed R. Brunner,

Chicago, Ill.,

assignor to Bendix Radio Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 1938, Serial No. 195,264

4 Claims.

an operator at a distant point and will eilect the desired changes at the mechanism to be controlled. The invention is directed particularly toward versatility of control and simplicity of operation.

The'invention contemplates the use by the operator at the remote point of some device such as the common telephone dial whereby the will of the operator may be transmitted in the form ofl electric stimuli to the control apparatus. It is desired to provide apparatus sensitive to such stimuli which will upon the simple manipulation of such device eiect any desired type of control. The embodiment of the invention herein specifically set forth deals with a'multi-channel radio receiver and the necessary control which is associated with such mechanism, but it is understood that the invention is applicable for controlling the operation of any kind of mechanism which can be lmade responsive to a condition of an electrical circuit.

Where the control apparatus is arranged for tuning in various channels at a radio receiver by dialing operations at the remote point, it is frequently desired to clear the receiver of all channels to `which it may be tuned except one on l which reception is to continue. That is, the operator may dial digit. 1 causing channel No. 1 to be tuned in, then dial digit 2 causing channel No.

2 to be tuned in, the receiver then being receptive on both channels 1 and 2. Afterwards, when a call is received on channel-No. 1 and communication is to take place on the No. 1 channel, the operator can not then leave the receiver tuned on 'both channels for reception on the No. 2 channel would ruin intelligibility on the No. 1 channel being used for communication. It is an important feature of this invention that the operator may re-dial for channel No. 1, in such a case, to

eiect the clearance of all channels except the No. 1 channel presently being used for communication.

Another` feature of the inventionlis the provi l sion of improved means for selecting the control circuits which are to be made effective either The,

alone or in conjunction with each other. One important factor of this feature is the provision of an automatically operative homing device for moving the switching mechanism back to home" or neutral position after it has been-moved for 5 effecting a desired control, and itl Will also be found that the operation of vthis homing arrange'- ment does not disturb or affect the conditioning then eiective.

Other features and advantages of the inven- 1o tion will be apparent after the following detailed description and explanation. The described Aembodiment is illustrated by the drawing which accompanies this specication in which the :ligure shown is a schematic diagram of the circuits in- 15 volved illustrating the arrangement of the elements and their electrical connections according to this invention.

As here illustrated, the invention is adapted to effect control of the multi-channel radio receiver 20 I0 with which are associated the circuits II, l2,

I3 and I4: 'I'hese four circuits represent four channels to which the receiver may be tuned, and the arrangement is such that when one or more of these circuits are closed as by the closing of 20 one or more of contacts IIa, I2a, I3 and HIB, the receiver will be receptive on channels corresponding with the closed. circuits. As shown in the figure these contacts are controlled by the relays R1, Rz, Ra and R4 respectively. '30

The resistance I5 is connected in the receiver sensitivity circuit, and the conductors I6, I "I, I8 and I9 are provided for shorting out `various amounts of this resistance thereby changing the sensitivity of the receiver. Each of these short- 3 5 ing conductors includes one of contacts I 6a, Ila,

I8.. and ISB, which contacts are controlled respectively by the relays G1, Gc, G3 and G4. From the above it is then clear that the channels on which the receiver remains tuned and also the sensitiv-y 40 ity of the receiver depend upon which of relays R1, R2, R3, R4 and G1, Ga, G3 and G4 are energized. It is understood that while only four channel-controlling relays and four sensitivitycontrolling relays have been illustrated; any 45 number of these may be provided as may be desired. I have found that al1 of these relays may be conveniently located within the casing of the receiver itself, and in fact all of the selecting mechanism may. if desired, be combined in the 50 same casing with the device being controlled.

At the remote point is the device 50 which may be an ordinary telephone dial having digits 1 to 9 and connected to the transmission line 5I which extends from the remotepoint to the location of 55 the radio receiver. At the place of the receiver the transmission line 5I is connected through the winding of the relay A. 'I'he closing of contacts A1 of relay A operates to place positive potential on the conductor 52. In the accompanying drawing, the character is intended to designate the positive terminal oi a suitable battery or `source of electric energy, the other side of which is connected tov ground.

'I'he conductor 52 is connected through the winding of the delayed action relay B to ground. Energization of relay B operates to break contacts B1 and close contacts Ba and Bs. Conductor 53 which is attached to conductor 52 is connected through the winding of the motor magnet M to ground, and energization of magnet M operates to break contacts M1 and make contacts Mz.

, ContactsMz are connected by conductor 54 with the winding of the delayed action relay C, and when contacts Mz are closed, a circuit is completed from the energy source through the winding of relay C to ground.

Energization of relay C operates to break contacts C1 and make contacts Cz. Closing of contacts Cz operates through contacts Bz to complete a circuit from a source of energy through a winding of relay C to ground for locking up the armature oi relay C until the amature of relay B is released. I

An important part of the apparatus is the switching mechanism which comprises the switch banks designated X, Y, Z and H in the accompanying diagram. All of these banks are operated by a single shaft and move in unison. The shaft of the switching mechanism is mechanically connected and associatedwith the motor magnet M, so'that when magnet M is actuated. the arms of each of switches X, Y, Z, and H are advanced one step. The arrangement whereby motor magnet M is adapted to advance the switching mechanism is well known in the ccmmunications neld and will not be described in detail here. It is suiiicient to say that a series of impulses impressed on motor magnet M will cause the arms of switches on each of the various banks to be advanced to some predetermined position in which each of these arms causes its respective bank to become conducting through some desired one of the electricaL'contacts of the bank. v

As here shown each of the switch banks includes 8 electrical contacts, the ninth point being vacant or idle. but any number of contacts or points may be provided as may be necessary or desired. Taking iirst the Z bank, points I, 2, I and l of'thisbank are connected through the windings of relays R1, Ra, Rs and R4 respectively to ground, and points I, l, 1. and I of this bank are connected through the windings of relays G1, Gn. Go and G4 respectively toground. The rotor 'or arm of this switch bank is connected through contacts Dl of `relay D, B1 oi' relay B, and Cx of relay C to a source of electrical energy.

'Ihe Y bank or level of the switching mechanism has its points I to 4 connected respectively through contacts 2li, 2|, 22 and 23 controlled by relays R1, Rz, Ra and R4, and through contact J1 of relay J to the source of electrical energy.`

It will be observed that this source of energy is also connected by circuits including contacts J1 and contacts 2l to 23, through the windings of the relays 'to ground, thus providing lock-in circuits for these relays. Y switch bank are Joined and connected through contacts K1 of relay K to a source 0i energy- Points l to 8 of the The contacts 24, 25, 2B and 21 controlled by relay D is adapted when energized to break conv tacts Dr and make contacts D2 and Da. The making of contacts Da operates to connect the arm of switch bank Y through the winding of relay D directly to ground yand this provides a lock-in arrangement for relay D.

' The X bank of the switching mechanism has its points I to I connected together and through the winding of relay J to ground, and has its points 5 to 8 connected together and through the winding of relay Kto ground. The arm oi' this bank is connected through contacts- D2 of relay D, contacts B1 of relay B, and contacts CzA of relay C, to a source of potential.

' The H switch bank, which performs the homing function for the mechanism has its points I to 8 connected ltogether and through contacts C1 of relay C to a source of energy. The arm of this switch bank is connected through contacts M1 and the winding of magnet M to ground.

In explaining the operation of the above described system, let us assume that'the operator at the distant point wishes to tune in channels 1 and 3 while using the greatest receiver sensitivity. 'I'he operator would then dial the digit 1. As soon as the dialing operation is begun current is placed on the transmission line 5I and the relay A is energized placing an electrical potential on conductor 52. Relay B and magnet'M, then being in direct connection between potential and ground are energized and pull up their armatures.N Pulling up of the amature at magnet M closes contacts Mz and thereby places'potential on the winding of relay C, causing it also to pull up its armature, and this operates to close contacts Cz which completes a circuit from the source of energy designated S1 through contacts VB2 of relay B (now closed) through the winding of relay C to ground, which circuit locks up relay C until such time as relay B releases to open con- Release of the dial by the operator allows the dialing mechanism to move back toits original position causing one interruption oi' current as it does so (the digit 1 was dialed in this instance). Since the relay B is of the slow release type, 4this one interruption will not affect it, and this relay will remain in operated position until after the operators dial has come to rest. The motor ymagnet M, however, is aifected by this one impulse and is caused to move the switching mechanlsm one step forward. The arms of each of the switch banks X, Y, Z, and H, are then moved to points I on the respective switches. It will be observed that during the operation of the motor magnet the circuit from the arm of switch bank Z to the source of energy is open because the contacts B1 are held apart by relay B.

After the operators dial has come to rest and the series of impulses delivered by it is terminated, thecurrent through relay A ceases and this relay releases, taking potential ofi.' relay B. An instant later relay B is demagnetized sunlciently to allow its armature to drop, causing contacts B2 to vbe broken and contacts B1 and Ba to be closed. Breaking of contacts Ba takes potential oiI relay C, but because this also is a slow release relay it does not drop its armature at this instant. The closing of contacts B1 at this instant completes a circuit from energy source S1 through contacts Ca of relay C, contacts B1 of relay B, point l oi switch bank Z (the arm of this bank has now been moved to point I), and through the winding of relay R1 to ground. The consequent operation of relay R1 closes the circuit II and effects reception of channel No. 1. The operation of relay R1 also closes the lock-in circuit tothe energy source designated S2, so that this relay will remain energized after the arm of switch bank Z has moved beyond point l.

In another instant of time the relay C will have had time to deenergize and will drop its armature thus cutting o the circuit from energy source S1 to the arm of switch bank Z and placing potential on each of the points of switch bank H. Since the arm of bank H is at this time on point I there will be a circuit completed from source S1 through switch bank H, ,contacts M1, and the winding of magnet M, to ground. It will be clear that with this arrangement the motor magnet M will continue to operate and will move the switching mechanism step-by-step until the switch arm of the H bank is moved to an idle position in which the switch is non-conducting to. any of circuits including any f its points of contacts. This position at which the switching mechanism is non-conducting to all circuits is known as the home position and movement of the mechanism to this position is known as homing To make the receiver receptive also to channel No. 3, the operator has but to dial again, this time dialing the digit 3. The operation of the selecting mechanism is the same as before except that this time three current interruptions cause the. switching mechanism to be moved by the motor magnet to points 3, and the relay R3 is operated and locked in to hold the receiver receptive to channel No.-3 in addition to channel No. 1.

In the same way, the operater may dial digits 2 and 4 to make the receiver receptive to these channels also 4if he so desires. To cause the receiver to be most sensitive the operator may dial the digit 8 in the arrangement shown. This causes the switching mechanism to move to point 8 serving to energize relay G4. 'Operation of relay G4 closes circuit I9 which shunts out practically all of resistance I5, and also closes a circuit leading to the energy source designated S3 so locking itself up. The homing operation takes place after the selection oi sensitivities just the same as was explained in connection with the selection of channels.

If now, the operator should receive a call on channel No. 2, for example, and it is desired to clear the receiver of all channels except channel No. 2, so that communication can take place on this channel, the operator has but to dial the digit 2 again. Upon repeated dialing of the digit 2, the apparatus functions as before explained `to move the' switching mechanism to point 2. When the arm of switch bank Y comes into-contact with a point whichis associated with a locked relay, the relay D is energized through a circuit including energy source S2 switch bank Y, the winding of relay D, and contacts B3 of relay B to ground. This locks up the relay D closing contacts Dz. Then as soon as the switching mechanism has come to rest and the relay B has an opportunity to release, a circuit ls completed from the energy source S1, through contacts C: of relay C, contacts B1 of relay B, Dz of relay D, the arm of switch bank X, point 2 of this bank, and the winding` of relay J to ground. This causes the Ioperation of relay J which breaks the lock-in circuits of all relays R1, Rz, R3 and R4. Operation of relay J also serves to break the energizing circuit of relay D and this relay drops its armature. Release of relay D again completes thev circuit from the energy source S1 through the arm of switch bank Z and the winding of relay R2 to ground, thus energizing the relay R2 through this circuit and causing it to be locked in again. Though the means just described interrupts lockin circuits for all channels and then sets up the channel corresponding with the redialed digit, its over-all function is to destroyl the conditioning for reception on all channels except the one corresponding with the redialed digit, and this overal1 function is accomplished automatically. I'l'he homing operation in the case of a re-dialed digit is accomplished upon the release of relay C in the i same way as before explained.

Should the operator wish to change the sensitivity of the receiver, he might dial, for example, the digit 5. When the arm of the switch bank Y comes to rest on point 5 and before the relay B has dropped its armature the relay D will become energized and lock itself in. When relay B drops its armature a circuit willbe completed through switch bank X, through the winding of relay K to ground. This causes operation of relay K which opens the lock-in circuits of relays G1, G2, G3 and G1 and also opens the energizing circuit through relay D. When relay D drops its armature it completes an energizing circuit which energizes and locks up the relay G1. The armature of relay C subsequently drops and causes the switch mechanism to home as before explained. With this change eiected, the receiver now has all the resistance I5 in its senitivity circuit and so is less sensitive than before.

The feature by which the switching mechanism is caused to automatically move to home position after the respective control relays have been energized and locked in is deemed of great importance here, for with this apparatus, the operator is relieved of any thought of sending the apparatus to the neutral or home position.

With the apparatus as herein described, the thought and action necessary on the part of the operator has been reduced to a minimum, as it is here unnecessary for the operator to do anything but the simplest dialing operations.

It will be apparent that while in the described embodiment of -the invention the circuits which are conditioned for control are associated with the channel and sensitivity circuits of a radio receiver, these circuits may be associated with any type of mechanism desired to be controlled. Also though these control circuits as here shown are conditioned for control when closed, it might easily be arranged to have the desired control eiected when the circuits are opened, such changes being considered within the scope of the invention. f

It is understood, also, that many other changes 4may be made in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention. The foregoing de-` tailedv description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitasaid control circuits are successively conditioned for control, and means operative when one of said contacts is designatedv by said mechanism a second time .for destroying the conditioning of all circuits except the circuit associated with the again designated contact, said means includin g a relay so connected as to be energized only when said mechanism is actuated to designate a contact associated with a control `circuit previously conditioned.

2. In a system of the character set forth, at least two control circuits, a relay associated with each of said circuits and adapted when energized to condition its associated circuit for control said relays'being of the lock-in type in which the lock-in circuit is closed by the action of the relay, dialing mechanism adapted to deliver electrical impulses, switching mechanism in connection with and responsive to impulses delivered by said dialing lmechanism, said switching mechanism having at least two banks of switches, one of the banks having contacts connected respectively in circuits including the windings of said relays, circuit means associated with the contacts of said other bank for controlling the lock-in circuits of said relays, said means including a relay effective to open all said lock-in circuits when said switching mechanism is moved to designate a contact associated with a relay having its lock-in circuit previously closed.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a

plurality of control circuits, a relay associated with each of said circuits and adapted when energized to condition said circuits for control, said relays being equipped with lock-in circuits, switching mechanism having at least two banks of contacts, the energizing circuits of said relays including contacts on one of said banks, switchactuating mechanism for moving said mechanism to a position in lwhich it is conducting to a predetermined one of said circuits whereby one of said relays may be energized and its lock-in circuit closed, a plurality of circuits each including a contact on a second bank of contacts-on said switching mechanism and including also a source .interrupting means has functioned but not during the operation of said interrupting means. l

REED R. BRUNNER. 

